Toronto Blue Jays picked for special MLB game that may not happen

Toronto Blue Jays fans are used to MLB snubbing the franchise for marquee games as the league's only non-American team. But the franchise has finally been awarded a marquee game for the 2027 season — though the game may not even happen.

On Monday, the Blue Jays announced that they will be one of two teams playing in the 2027 MLB Little League Classic. The event is an annual youth-focused MLB regular-season game that brings together big leaguers and Little League World Series stars on the same field.

Toronto is scheduled to take on the Chicago Cubs in Williamsport, Pa., on Aug. 19, 2027, at Historic Bowman Field, the smallest ballpark to host an MLB regular-season game each season.

The stadium has a capacity of fewer than 2,500 fans and is considered one of MLB's four jewel events each season.

Back to our roots 😃

We're playing in next year's #LittleLeagueClassic! pic.twitter.com/jI8QuiNNxc

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 24, 2026

Even though this marquee regular-season game would be a first for the Blue Jays franchise, there's a high chance this event won't happen, as a league-wide lockout looms for 2027.

MLB's collective bargaining agreement expires in December, and many owners across the league want a hard salary cap to close the gap between small-market teams and the giants, like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets.

The players' association has opposed having a cap as it would limit earnings across the league.

The two sides have until March 2027 to reach an agreement for next season to start on time. Otherwise, there's a chance this special Little League Blue Jays event could be postponed until 2028.

For this reason, Blue Jays fans didn't seem too thrilled about the game being awarded to Toronto.

"The MLB scheduled this knowing the game won't happen," one fan replied to the announcement.

"Of course, they give us something special, and we won't even get the game... Nice," another fan wrote.

This season's MLB Little League Classic had the Atlanta Braves take on the Milwaukee Brewers in Williamsport, Pa. (Matthew O'Haren/Imagn Images)

The game would also mean Toronto would have one fewer home game at Rogers Centre next season. Instead of playing 81 home games, the Blue Jays would have 80 games at home and 82 on the road.

Even though it would be awesome to see MLB All-Stars like Dylan Cease and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. playing in a Little League stadium, the game sadly won't be official until the 2027 season is confirmed to be happening.